Key Takeaways
- Higher education facilities across the US are increasingly deploying work-based learning (WBL) practices in a bid to overturn the cybersecurity skills gap, according to a new report.
- Certificates and associate degree programs are exhibiting the highest volume of WBL.
- Cybersecurity skills gap is contributing to escalating threat landscape, with evidence suggesting that the problem is getting worse.
Higher education facilities are increasingly implementing work-based learning in cybersecurity programs in an effort to overhaul the yawning cybersecurity skills gap, new research finds.
According to a study conducted by the University of South Florida, colleges and universities are determined to close the skills gap and have begun to incorporate hands-on learning into their existing cybersecurity programs. Practitioners argue that such an approach can create a more “scalable” and “career-ready” talent pipeline.
Cybersecurity is a growing concern among businesses around the world. The rapid adoption of AI has opened up new attack surfaces for cybercriminals, as well as giving rise to a new generation of sophisticated tools that are difficult to detect. The skills gap is commonly cited as one of the biggest obstacles in countering this evolving threat landscape.
Higher Education Firms on a Mission to Close Cybersecurity Skills Gap
Higher education facilities across the US are increasingly deploying work-based learning into their cybersecurity programs as part of an effort to address the industry skills gap, according to a new report.
With many businesses around the world struggling to cope with an escalating wave of cyberattacks, the study highlights the importance of hands-on learning to better prepare students for the future workforce.
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“This is critical in an environment where technology is rapidly changing and the workforce has to adapt to those changes. Strengthening programs with the use of work-based learning can create a more scalable, inclusive, and career-ready cybersecurity talent pipeline.” – Oscar A. Aliaga, Associate Professor, University of South Florida
Hands-On Learning Proliferating Across Facilities of Different Types
To gather their findings, the researchers mapped out work-based learning (WBL) practices with a cross-sectional survey. Mainly, they were preoccupied with prevalence, regional distribution, and the characteristics of such an approach.
Ultimately, it was found that, while WBL opportunities span all levels of higher education credentials, they are most prevalent among certificates and associate degree programs. This suggests that educational practitioners are eager to embed hands-on cybersecurity learning at foundational levels.
Elsewhere, the research identified 266 WBL activities across a wide variety of types, including industry speaker series, capstone experiences, worksite visits, job shadowing, employee mentorships, and senior design projects.
Closing Skills Gap Key to Combating Mounting Security Threats
As we’ve covered elsewhere, global cybersecurity has reached a “tipping point,” with the rise of AI being a significant contributing factor. To make matters worse, businesses are understaffed and under-resourced where it matters most: their IT and security departments.
According to a recent report, 88% of professionals have experienced at least one “significant” cybersecurity consequence as a result of the skills gap. Concerningly, the data indicates that the skills gap is actually getting worse, with 95% of surveyed respondents reporting at least one skill need, up from 90% the year before.
And with 68% of employees believing that existing security measures are insufficient to deal with the rising threat level, the need for cybersecurity talent has never been greater. The pervasiveness of WBL practices across the nation poses hope for the future.
